Top priority for agriculture: Naidu

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today said his government has given top priority to agriculture sector as 65 per cent of people depended on agriculture.

The Chief Minister was speaking after laying foundation stone for Agriculture University in Guntur district. Naidu said 500-acre land has been allotted to the university and the Centre would extend financial assistance of Rs 1505 crore for construction of buildings. For the first time in the country, the farmers have come forward for construction and development of new capital city Amaravathi and they have given 33,000 acres voluntarily for the purpose, Naidu said. In spite of financial crunch, the State government was implementing welfare programs in the State, he said, adding he has sanctioned Rs 24,000 crore for waiving of farmers’ loans. (NSS)